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Alen. He may mean more than we poor men do

know:

These women are, shrewd tempters with their tongues. Reig. My lord, where are you? what devise you

on ?

Shall we give over Orleans, or no?

Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. Char. What she says, I'll confirm; we'll fight it

out.

Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.
This night the siege assuredly I'll raise :
Expect Saint Martin's summer2 halcyon days,
Since I have enter'd into these wars.
Glory is like a circle in the water,
Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,

Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought.
With Henry's death, the English circle ends;
Dispersed are the glories it included.

Now am I like that proud insulting ship,
Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.
Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?
Thou with an eagle art inspired then.

Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters,3 were like thee.
Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth,
How may I reverently worship thee enough?

3

Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours;

2 Expect prosperity after misfortune.

Meaning the four daughters of Philip mentioned in Acts

xxi. 9.

Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd.

Char. Presently we'll try :-Come, let's away about

it:

No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

London. Hill before the Tower.

Enter, at the Gates, the Duke of GLOSTER, with his Serving-men, in blue Coats.

Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.4Where be these warders, that they wait not here? Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls.

[Servants knock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who is there that knocks so

imperiously?

1 Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster.

2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.

1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villains?

1 Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so we answer him:

We do no otherwise than we are will'd.

Glo. Who willed you? or whose will stands, but

mine?

There's none protector of the realm, but I.-
Break up 5 5 the gates, I'll be your warrantize :
Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?

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Servants rush at the Tower Gates.

Enter, to the

Gates, WOODVILLE, the Lieutenant.

Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what traitors have we here?

Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter. Wood. [Within.] Have patience, noble duke; I 'may not open;

The cardinal of Winchester forbids:

From him I have express commandement,
That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.
Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore

me?

Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate,
Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook?
Thou art no friend to God, or to the king:
Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.

1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.

Enter WINCHESTER, attended by a Train of
Servants in tawny Coats.

IVin. How now, ambitious Humphry? what means · this?

6

Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,"

And not protector of the king or realm.
Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator;

Alluding to his shaven crown. ? Traitor.

Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord;
Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin :
I'll canvas thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot;

This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back: Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth

I'll use, to carry thee out of this place.

Win. Do what thou dar'st; I beard thee to thy face.

Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face?-
Draw, men, for all this privileged place;
Blue-coats to tawny-coats. Priest, beware your beard;
[GLOSTER and his Men attack the Bishop.

I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly:
Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat;
In spite of pope or dignities of church,
Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.
Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope.
Glo. Winchester goose, I cry—a rope! a rope!-
Now beat them hence, Why do you let them stay?—
Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.-
Out, tawny coats!-out, scarlet' hypocrite!

Here a great Tumult. In the midst of it, Enter the
Mayor of London, and Officers.

May. Fye, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates,

• Sift.

9 A strumpet. An allusion to the Bishop's habit.

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!

Glo. Peace, mayor; thou know'st little of my wrongs:

Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens;
One that still motions war, and never peace,
O'ercharging your free purses with large fines;
That seeks to overthrow religion,

Because he is protector of the realm;

And would have armour here out of the Tower,
To crown himself king, and suppress the prince.
Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but blows.
[Here they skirmish again.

May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous strife,

But to make open proclamation

:

Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst.

Off. All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day, against God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in his highness' name, to repair to your several dwelling-places; and not to wear, handle, or use, any sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death.

Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law : But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be

sure:

Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. May. I'll call for clubs,' if you will not away :

That is, for peace-officers armed with clubs or staves.

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